Mixing Halichoeres wrasses

Triggerfish

Active member
anyone keeping these together? have an established male melanarus in a 110and looking to add what i believe is a christmass wrasse close to same size.
 
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I had a friend that had a Christmas, dusky & melanarus in a 92 along w many leopards, fairy & flashers, but its the only example I know of.
 
I would like someone with more experience to chime in as well, but I am guessing longterm they would be fine together, however an acclimation box would be a must for the H. claudia. If they are both males and about the same size, I can easily see the H. melanurus not throwing it a welcome party, but likely they would tolerate each other after acclimation.

But again, I would wait to hear from someone with more experience.
 
You should be okay, but mixing Halichoeres is a mixed bag. It doesn't always work, and it's difficult to predict what might/might not work together. Sure, the more similar in color/patter, the more cautious I would be, but i wouldn't let that be the sole marker. Use an acclimation box and be observant; hope for the best but have a plan B for the new guy!
 
Get an acclimation box first, it will help the new wrasse feel at ease in a new environment. My male melanurus was never interested in a fish in the box until it was released into the tank but I think the new fish didn't feel as bullied since it was in the tank for a few days first.
 
Usually they will be fine, but the longer a single Halichoeres is in a tank as the only Halichoeres, the less likely it will be to tolerate a new Halichoeres.

A larger tank, such as yours, goes a long way in helping have success.

I have also had success adding multiple Halichoeres species at a time to a tank with an existing Halichoeres and this helps diffuse aggression.
 
I have a yellow, two white bellied and a cosmetus together and have never seen even a hint of aggression. The later is sometimes described as feisty and it is the dominant wrasse and I'd say that would likely be the same with your melanurus. But take the advice above and go for an acclimation box if you go for it.
 
As long as it allows water in and out, but keeps fish in, it will work. You will need to put a small container with some sand for it.
 
Keeping a dusky and a timor in a 90 gallon over a year now. Minimal aggression from the dusky at feeding but other than that they get along just fine
 
Usually they will be fine, but the longer a single Halichoeres is in a tank as the only Halichoeres, the less likely it will be to tolerate a new Halichoeres.

A larger tank, such as yours, goes a long way in helping have success.

I have also had success adding multiple Halichoeres species at a time to a tank with an existing Halichoeres and this helps diffuse aggression.

I agree. I just did this. I have an established Timor, and 4 leopards. I added 2 yellow, 1 green, 1 melanurus, 1 Christmas (claudia I think) and a tiny black leopard. All at once, at night. I did not use an acclimation box since their were so many new additions. First day was dicey, but after that aggression was very minimal to none. 5 days in all is well.

I was very worried for the tiny black leopard, but I think the small size must make her seem like she is not a threat.
 
That said, I had 2 yellows with a big melanurus in my other tank. Together for a long time. Yellows went down overflow for a couple weeks before I found them. When I put them back in, the melanurus killed them by the next day. So yeah, mixed bag.
 
That said, I had 2 yellows with a big melanurus in my other tank. Together for a long time. Yellows went down overflow for a couple weeks before I found them. When I put them back in, the melanurus killed them by the next day. So yeah, mixed bag.

went down the overflow how big is your sump where you didnt notice them?
 
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